Green tea, a valued part of the diets of people in China and India for nearly 5,000 years, is a beverage now consumed throughout the world. Produced by steaming the leaves of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis, green tea is less processed than black tea, which comes from the same plant and is made by fermenting the leaves. The high levels of certain antioxidants and other phytochemicals in green tea give it a variety of health-boosting properties.

Weight Management

Green tea promotes energy production and weight loss, notes Vanderbilt University's Health Psychology Department. In particular, it helps you lose abdominal fat, which is associated with increased risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. A review of previously published studies that appeared in the December 2012 issue of the journal "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews" found that 12 weeks of green tea consumption resulted in up to 7.7 pounds of weight loss and reduction of up to 1.3 inches in waist size. Green tea also helped maintain weight loss, in some studies.

Cancer Treatment

Epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, an active constituent in green tea, may help in the treatment of cancer, according to a study published in the January 2013 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Investigation." EGCG promotes early cell death in cancer cells and inhibits a protein that promotes cancer growth and spread. The green tea compound also enhances the effects of a drug used to treat some forms of cancer. Ovarian cancer cells were inhibited by a combination of EGCG and sulforaphane -- a compound in broccoli, cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables, in a study published in the January 2013 issue of the journal "Experimental Cell Research."

Circulation

Damaged blood vessels may heal with green tea consumption, according to a study published in the December 2004 issue of the journal "Heart." Participants, all of whom were cigarette smokers, consumed either 400 milliliters of green tea or hot water. Two hours later, scientists induced decreased blood flow in paticipants' arms for several minutes by inflating blood pressure cuffs, then measured blood flow as it returned to normal after releasing the pressure. Results showed that green tea was more effective than a control at promoting blood flow, implying that green tea improved the ability of blood vessels to dilate.

Nerve Health

Green tea may help heal a condition known as peripheral neuropathy, a type of nerve damage often associated with diabetes, according to a study published in the January 2013 issue of the journal "Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science." In the animal study, 12 weeks of supplementation with green tea showed lower levels of oxidation -- cell damage from accumulated toxins and waste products -- and increased levels of antioxidants. Researchers concluded that green tea reversed some damage to the retina and protected against nerve degeneration. Consult your doctor before using green tea to treat any medical condition, such as neuropathy.